Telithromycin (Ketek) – Part 5
Like all medications, telithromycin has important drug interactions – a few of which are discussed here. It should not be taken with simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and atorvastatin (Lipitor) as it can raise the levels of these cholesterol-lowering drugs up
to 20 times. Other drug side effects include altering the level of coumadin effect on the blood and interacting with seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and phenobarbital (Luminal).
In addition, telithromycin lengthens the QT interval and should not be taken with amiodarone(Cordarone, Pacerone), sotalol (Betapace), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Pronestyl), and dofetilide. It should be used only with very careful monitoring of drug levels with tacrolimus (Progra) and sirolimaus (Rapamune).
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New visitor to your site- I really like Ketek. I am a nurse who for over 10 years had chronic sinusitis in winter. I took one course of Ketek 2 years ago and have not had a sinus infection since. My brother also suffered and he was the one who took a course first. He didn’t have any more infections, either.